Poly(phenylenevinylene) analogs with ring substituted polar side chains and their use in the formation of hydrogen bonding based self-assembled multilayers

Poly(arylenevinylene) homopolymers and copolymers with polar hydroxy and carboxy moieties attached to the aromatic phenyl ring were prepared. The copolymers and the related homopolymers are copoly[5-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-2-methoxy-1,4-phenylenevinylene/1,4- phenylenevinylene], co(PHydroxyV-PV), and copoly(5-carboxymethoxy-2-methoxy-1,4-phenylenevinylene/1,4-phenylenevinylene), co(PCarboxyV-PV). For co(PHydroxyV-PV) the photoluminescence and electroluminescence spectra can be adjusted over a range of 100 nm as a function of the percentage of the hydroxy substituted phenyl ring. For co(PCarboxyV-PV) the observed spectral features are a function of the pH from which the final conjugated polymer was prepared. The optical density and photoluminescence of co(PCarboxyV-PV) films prepared from solutions at pH = 12 were significantly blue-shifted compared to polymers prepared from pH = 2 solutions at up to 30% substitution at the phenyl ring. The presence of the polar side chain was used to form self-assembled multilayer films, poly(ethyleneimine)/poly(styrenesulfonate)/co(PHydroxyV-PV), based on hydrogen bonding interactions rather than electrostatic forces. The luminescence spectra in the layered systems were blue-shifted compared to the spin coated films.